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do new capacitors make a difference

post #1 of 11
3/22/09 at 11:01pm
Thread Starter 
i have a pair of pioneer floor standing speakers that sound better than my shure se-110's by a long shot, have yet to find a match ind quality and performance. there is an issue, they're from the 1980's and need a bit of refreshing. would replacing the the capacitors make a difference?
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post #2 of 11
3/24/09 at 8:38am
It really depends. It's more about the circuit design. Best you can do with the capacitor is how quality the material its made up of, how low the tolerance. Sometimes a little higher value cap for power supply section can give it more juice, if the circuit all together would tolerate the new value. Some amp builder sell amp with 'better' cap and charge more money even though the sound doesn't make a difference, but people are paying for the snake oil. Try it and find out. It may help if the cap you're replacing is not very good. The two quality caps for audio hifi usage athat you can buy in abundance are Nicohon and Elna.
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post #3 of 11
3/24/09 at 12:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by terrymx View Post
It really depends. It's more about the circuit design. Best you can do with the capacitor is how quality the material its made up of, how low the tolerance. Sometimes a little higher value cap for power supply section can give it more juice, if the circuit all together would tolerate the new value. Some amp builder sell amp with 'better' cap and charge more money even though the sound doesn't make a difference, but people are paying for the snake oil. Try it and find out. It may help if the cap you're replacing is not very good. The two quality caps for audio hifi usage athat you can buy in abundance are Nicohon and Elna.
Thanks for the very nice explaination! One question, how does one work out whether circuit can take the extra juice from higher value cap?
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post #4 of 11
3/24/09 at 12:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Look4Cego View Post
i have a pair of pioneer floor standing speakers that sound better than my shure se-110's by a long shot, have yet to find a match ind quality and performance. there is an issue, they're from the 1980's and need a bit of refreshing. would replacing the the capacitors make a difference?
Are we talking about capcitors in the crossover or caps in the amp? I'd say either way, ~30 years is a long time. I'd expect those caps are well past their rated lifespan. Probably wouldn't hurt replacing them. I wouldn't worry about trying to go larger, just get similar spec'd caps.
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post #5 of 11
3/24/09 at 1:24pm

Delete


Edited by labrat - 9/13/11 at 9:27am
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post #6 of 11
3/24/09 at 1:49pm
Film capacitors should not deteriorate after 29 years, but electrolytic capacitors definitely will. So replacing these (ideally with film capacitors of the same value) should provide a noticeable improvement. A common trick is to use relatively cheap MKT and bridge them with a small polypropylene or polystyrene capacitor (for better HF extension).

Recabling is another option.
.
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post #7 of 11
3/26/09 at 5:04pm
Thread Starter 
i will defiantly replace the internal speaker cables,
i cannot find anything on my speakers except a $15 manual that tells me how to fix common sense issues,
i have a pair of pioneer cs-g911 floor standing loudspeakers,
how can i tell what capacitors i would need?
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post #8 of 11
3/26/09 at 5:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Look4Cego View Post
...how can i tell what capacitors i would need?
Read the values printed on the old capacitors.
.
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post #9 of 11
3/26/09 at 8:04pm
Thread Starter 
also what kind of cable should i be getting?

i've taken a look at the cables and there is no marking at to what gauge the are or impedance, any suggestions?
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post #10 of 11
3/26/09 at 9:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Look4Cego View Post
also what kind of cable should i be getting?
It depends on what sonic changes you want to achieve (by changing the cabling). Silver or silver-plated copper would be my choice if you want more bite in the treble.

Quote:
I've taken a look at the cables and there is no marking at to what gauge the are or impedance, any suggestions?
It doesn't matter. Just avoid too thin cables for the bass drivers. Any normal gauge will do, though.
.
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post #11 of 11
3/26/09 at 9:52pm
maybe...caps do age, although they can last a looong time unless they are either poor quality or the designer doesn't know what she is doing.

As the caps age, their ability to retain charge is reduced and as such your circuit may be altered. When caps die instead of an open circuit in the DC mode they become an closed circuit.
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